These testimony lives are not stories of "role models". Jesus is the
role model!
These are lives wonderfully touched & changed by Jesus!

William "Buddy"
Farris:

Buddy was pronounced dead in 21 November of 1979,
yet nearly 20 years later, on November 12, 1998 he competed for the World Championships of
the Law Enforcement Olympics. You can get a tape of his testimony through Gospel Sunrise
Inc., Dayton, Va. (540-879-9430). My wife and I were loaned a tape by our now brother-in-law,
Kenny Speer, and listened to it on 13 April 2002. Buddy was born in about 1955 and is
Chief of Police in Dayton, Va. from 1996-2004 (the present). This is his "Shadow of Death"
story:

On Thanksgiving Eve, 1979, Buddy Farris, a
Virginia state trooper, was pulling radar duty on Interstate 95 15 miles north of Richmond.
To pass the time (and not really wanting to chase speeders) he read his Bible, this
particular night stopping on Romans 8:28 as a car sped by at 82 mph at 10 p.m. Farris pursued
the vehicle and pulled it over on the breakdown lane. As Farris walked up to the stopped car,
a drunk driver hit him at 65 mph. The hood ornament of the car pierced through Farris' lower
back, thrusting him into the back of the parked car. He flipped over the car and landed
halfway on the interstate and the breakdown lane. Two trucks traveling one behind the other
at more than 60 mph on the right lane of the interstate were approaching the site of the
accident.

Noticing that there was something in the road, the
first driver turned into the left-hand lane abruptly, leaving the second driver with no time
to react to what was ahead of him. The second driver could not stop on time or turn suddenly
without flipping the truck, so he threw his hands into the air almost as if out of submission
to the circumstance. The wheel turned as if by its own capacity and straightened itself after
passing Farris. Witnesses said there was no possible way that the truck could turn at the
45-degree angle that it did without flipping
itself.

Ambulances arrived at the scene and paramedics
tried in vein to revive Farris' battered body. Farris was pronounced dead at 10:23 p.m. He
was taken to the morgue, and, as workers rolled him down the hall, Farris lifted the blanket
off himself. After what was surely a good shock to the workers (one said, "You-you-you're
supposed to be dead!!"), he was taken to the
hospital.

Doctors treated Farris for various injuries, but
he overheard them tell his wife that he would never walk again and that he would suffer brain
damage. Almost as miraculously as he lived, neither
occurred.

Farris is completely recovered. Further, in 1987,
he competed in Florida for the Law Enforcement Olympics. His dream was to finish in the top
three so that he might qualify for the World Championships. During the decathlon portion of
the event, Farris was engaged in the rope climb. He lost his grip on the way down from the
climb and fell to the ground, tearing two tendons in his foot. Farris finished the events in
the decathlon for the day under severe pain and actually won first place, but doctors
examined him and told him that he would not be able to walk for a month and would have to
keep a cast on his leg. With the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races yet to come, Farris' dream
was
shattered.

Farris questioned the God he served so faithfully:
"Why did this happen? Why did I work so hard to come up
short?"

The next day as he was packing for his trip back
to Virginia, Farris came across letters written by his four children that were wrapped around
his son's Swiss Army Knife. The letters were filled with encouraging Bible verses that gave
Farris all the motivation he needed to use the knife and cut off the
cast.

Farris went to the track stadium and, using
crutches to reach the starting line, announced that he was going to run. He said that he was
thinking about how much Jesus Christ had suffered for his sake. The gun sounded and the race
began. Farris' first step in the 100-meter race resulted in an excruciating pain that shot up
through his nerves, but he completed the race and won third place. After that it was time for
the 400-meter, and Farris had to get a bigger shoe for his swollen foot. He finished second
in the race and finished second once again in the 200-meter
race.

It was seemingly unexplainable. He won first
place, yet barely had the energy to stand in front of the crowd of 35,000 people. While
speaking to the crowd Farris explained that what he did he had done for God's glory and with
His help, for surely, Farris said, he could not do it on his own strength. Something
incredible had happened! Supernatural? Who's to say? However, another great thing did happen
on that same day: eighty athletes hearing Farris' testimony prayed with him to become
Christians.

Farris says God allows trials to come into
people's lives so that He might be glorified and that others or oneself might grow closer to
him. The night of his near-death experience in 1979, Farris chased the speeding car after he
had just read Romans 8:28. It reads like this: "We know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love him, who have been called according to his
purpose."

Unfortunately, elected officials can become caught
up in controversy. And there is nothing like a miraculous testimony to cause sparks to fly
with regard to those who publicly run for elective office. When I post a testimony, I am not
making any effort to "champion" the person...my hope is to champion the life-changing work of
Jesus. In Sept. 2003 while at a professional meeting, I began to receive e-mails notifying me
that Buddy's "testimony" was not true. Importantly, nobody has said that Buddy is not a true
Christian. See below for further details, so far. I'm not yet confident that I know
what all is true and if anything, for sure, is false. I have since had a few e-mails from
Buddy's supporters (most recently
12/7/08).

It is nearly impossible to go back for more
than 5 years and find activity-receipt records in any business system, and people's memories
notoriously fade. The whole reason I'm doing the testimony-collection portion of this website
is because Satan helps cloud & delete our memories of even the miracles affecting close
family & friends. Satan has even caused me and my wife to embellish the details of divine
interventions in our own lives...as if we had to "help" God with what He had done. If you are
a real Christian, the Bible
essentially promises that you will come under attack. I think that it is important that we be
able to see such an example. So, see
below:

e-mail #1: "As you may know Buddy
Farris is running for Sheriff in Rockingham County [Virginia...Sept. 2003]. At the beginning
of his campaign we supported him mostly because friends of ours had unpleasant experiences
with his opponent. In the course of talking with acquaintances about the Sheriffs race we
started hearing rumors about Buddy's testimony. We heard that there were several
contradicting versions on the internet and that a local newspaper had done some stories about
how the things Buddy said could not be verified. We checked the internet and sure enough
there were several different testimonies. They all start the same; but some have him
returning to life in the morgue, others in the ambulance. The other differences that I have
picked up on are minor. According to a newspaper article written at the time of the accident,
all people involved were treated and released. That does not go along with Buddy's story. In
most of his testimonies he claims to have woken up at the morgue. He goes into a good bit of
detail about the morgue and the things that he recognized there. Bob Holloway, the director
at the morgue, says they have no record of Buddy ever being there. Mr.. Holloway also checked
with the employees that were working at the time Buddy claims to have been there. No one has
any memory of him or of anyone coming back to life. Sergeant Hill, Buddy's superior officer
at the time of the accident, also knows nothing about Buddy being pronounce dead. Neither do
any of the other State Troopers. It would seem to me that someone is making things up. Myron
went to talk to Buddy about the problems with his testimony we were having. When asked why
the morgue director had no record of him being at the morgue, Buddy told Myron that it was
because he woke up in the ambulance. Myron said to him, "On the internet I heard you say that
you came to in the morgue." Buddy replied, "Uh-huh". Myron says, "So you came to in the
morgue?" Buddy says, "That's
right."

It looks to us ____. Several years ago The
Shenandoah Journal ran quite a few stories about all this, but it did not get much publicity.
We have since discovered that ___ about winning "Toughest Cop". And the rumors about _____
are being verified. In one instance___. It seems that his conduct as a state trooper ___. His
conduct also is rumored to have cost his superior the election in Smyth County. We know these
things from speaking to fellow officers and others directly involved. You might say that this
is part of his private life and should not matter. But he is really pushing family values in
his campaign. The Daily News Record, the newspaper in Harrisonburg VA, is supposed to have an
article about some of this this week. [see D N-R archives for 26 Sept.
2003]

We are Christians and were hesitant to doubt
another man's testimony; but, if it's not true, it's not true. Can you spread the truth with
a lie? If a man can't tell the truth in church, where can he tell the truth? Court?? As
Christians, we cannot stand by and let this man continue to lie to people for his personal
gain. Several times Myron has gone to him in the spirit of Mathew 18; and, each time, Buddy
has continued to lie. We don't like his opponent, but at least he is not trying to cover up
his lies and misdeeds with Christ. Ask Buddy about the discrepancies; and, instead of
answering the questions, he quotes Bible verses and says that he is under attack from the
devil because he is fighting for the Lord. We would welcome a phone call and will try to
answer any question you might have for
us."

e-mail
#2:

"Dear Citizens of Rockingham County [a 23 Sept.
2003
letter],

For some time now there has been talk of another
letter coming from those of us who have been investigating various issues regarding the
upcoming election for sheriff of Rockingham County. Though we continue to have new
information coming in almost daily, we felt that the following is quite enough for someone to
digest and process in one reading. First of all I would like to clear up any
dubious-type questions as to my being factual and credible. In the first letter, I stated
that Mr. Farris had handed me a copy of the publication, Guidepost. In fact, the publication
is Full Gospel M[?]; and it is the 1994 Global Report. There you will find Mr. Farris' Shadow
of Death story along with his second near death story. Story number two is the one in which a
criminal points a gun at Mr. Farris' head, Mr. Farris quotes Bible scripture to the criminal, and
the criminal then shakes his hand and lets him arrest him. Divine intervention AGAIN?
Secondly, last week I stated on the radio that I had received 100 phone calls all of which were
positive as to our endeavors to seek the truth. I did not mention the one negative call as
this came from the person who earlier this spring had planned to announce his candidacy as one also
seeking the position of our sheriff. Another negative call came in last week from a Grottoes
resident who had written a letter to the editor of our local paper. This person only
wanted to give me her opinion of Sheriff Farley in a rather iniquitous manner; so, I terminated our
conversation. I would next like to address the subject of
my being judgmental where Mr. Farris is concerned. From a Biblical standpoint, I ask that you
do your own research and read the following scriptures: John 7:24, 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13, Matthew
7: 17-20, Isaiah 29: 13, Numbers 32: 23, and Matthew 18: 15-17. I sought pastoral prayer and
advice, and these scriptures were given to me by two different pastors/theologians. There have been some exceedingly dreadful
things said in the vein of gossip about Mr. Farley and members of his family. In tracing some
of these rumors back to their original sources, it was found that these very unkind egregious
comments came directly from Mr. Farris' supporters. Mr. Farris stated to me during our
somewhat contentious conversation in July [2003] that he forbade anyone in his camp to mudsling in
a malicious way. Hopefully, there is a diadem of truth in that statement. There are
also those in the Farris camp who are natural raconteurs with rumors regarding Sheriff Farley's
handling of situations in his department. Throughout this two- sided quest for truth we have
consistently used The Freedom of Information Act. Nowhere have we found any documented
evidence to lend even a modicum of truth to these rumors and accusations. Our investigation into Mr. Farris' life, may
be opined by some to be political mudslinging. Maybe because of the upcoming election one would
have to give credence to that school of thought. My personal feelings, as previously stated, have
more to do with the many contradictory truths and untruths. In closely examining the
candidates platforms, there is unquestionably room for dissection of the issues. Mr. Farris touting
his faith is his alone on a personal level between only himself and God. Sheriff Farley is
also a Christian who prefers to walk the walk rather than talk the talk. Mr. Farris'
brochure claims a strong sense of ethics and commitment to family values. After the many,
many recent conversations I have had personally with those who have worked with and known Mr.
Farris both here, in Smyth County, and the Richmond area, I have to question his definition of the
words ethics and family values. The word ethics, to my way of thinking, involves honesty and
moral behavior.

RICHMOND AREA...THE SHADOW OF DEATH: In speaking to
Sgt. William B. Hill (Mr. Farris' former supervisor with the state police in the Richmond
area), the infamous death and resurrection story did not happen in November 1979. The
Richmond morgue has no records. Co-workers have no recollection of the story. The
Richmond Times reported an accident during that time stating Mr. Farris was treated and released.
Do you honestly believe a hospital would release someone that would have to learn to walk again and
might have brain damage the same night they were involved in this accident? Do you honestly
believe if Buddy Farris had TRULY been pronounced dead and the MIRACULOUSLY came back to life that
surely SOMEONE would have remembered this event? Only Sonny Dobbins in the testimonial Mr.
Farris gives but as Sgt. Hill stated, 'How convenient'. Sonny passed away years ago from
cancer.

TOUGHEST COP ALIVE: According to Mr. Farris, after
being injured in earlier events at the National law Enforcement Games in Daytona Beach Florida,
August 1997, God took over his body; and he won The Toughest Cop Alive award and medal.
According to Norm at the law games headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Farris did not
receive this award. Norm would probably know, as he is the presenter of Toughest
Cop.

SMYTH COUNTY: Our investigation here could be a
book; so, I will attempt to summarize. Conversations took place over the last few weeks
between myself and former law enforcement co-workers of Mr. Farris as well as citizens of
Marion, Va. Many of you have heard the Mary Parnell story and/or read the story in the Smyth
County News....____[omitted].____ Trooper Farris was put on probation and resigned
shortly thereafter. Mr. Farris went to work as a deputy for Smyth County. Sheriff
Grubb promoted him to Chief deputy. ____[omitted] Election time rolled around and Sheriff
Grubb lost the election. Folks down in Marion attribute his loss to his employee Mr.
Farris... Sheriff Bradley, the current sheriff in Smyth County, chose not to reinstate Mr.
Farris. Mr. Farris then reapplied to the state police. A captain of the state police
asked a deputy of Smyth County his opinion of Mr. Farris possibly coming back as a trooper.
____[omitted] Perhaps the citizens of Dayton should contact the Smyth County sheriff's office
and inquire as to the background check done on Mr. Farris. This background check was done by
___[omitted]...[the report was glowingly...but allegedly inaccurately...positive].

MAY 6, 2001 FREEDOM BAPTIST CHURCH: It was Sunday
evening and the last amen had been said following Sunday services. This was Mr. Farris'
church at the time. From what I was told, there was an attempted coup that night to overthrow
the good pastor; and there, in the midst of the renegades, was Buddy Farris. When a shouting
match ensued between the congregation and the trouble makers, the pastor asked that 911 be
called. When the officer arrived on the scene twelve minutes after the call came in, Mr.
Farris had left the building along with his other five cohorts. The call report filed was
classified as an event verified.. It is obtainable through The Freedom of Information
Act. I have a copy.

September 16, 2003 WSVA SPEAKING OF POLITICS: Guest
speaker for last Tuesday evening's show was Chief of Police of Dayton, Mr. Buddy Farris.
Those of us that listened felt this show was about as staged as Phantom of the Opera. Did we
not all recognize the voices of Mr. Farris' supporters? I made no attempt to call, but I do
have a few questions. Mr. Farris stated that our current system at our sheriff's office is
slow to respond to calls. He told of a call that took 25 minutes to be answered by
response. Is that call documented? No, we don't always get the bad guy. At least
not on the night of May 6, 2001 as the bad guy quickly fled before officers arrived. Eleven
years working on budgets???? Seven in Dayton is believable and factual. Where were the
other four? With Sheriff Farley having eight as the EXPERIENCED sheriff, that kind of puts a
damper on one of your unique differences. What about education? Mr. Farris you
have one college degree, not four, and the one you have you have had for ONE YEAR. What about
the DEGREE OF LIFE EXPERIENCE in having had this job for eight years and having lived here your
entire life knowing this county like the back of your hand? And, WHERE did you get those
pitiful figures regarding the R. U. S. H. Drug Task Force statistics? I believe you said 52
cases had been handled in 2003. Let me enlighten you Mr. Farris. The Task Force, in
their war on drugs in Rockingham County, has initiated 180 cases as of June 2003 which has led to
the arrest of 131 individuals on 295 charges. In speaking with Colonel Harper, chief of
police in Harrisonburg, Colonel Harper expressed to me, 'I think these guys are doing a great job
especially considering the number of investigators and the number of cases and drugs. These
numbers far exceed the national average.' In regards to the other issues, I will anxiously
await the debates. Finally, may I ask you Mr. Farris, with your steadfast insistence that you
are telling the truth about your Shadow of Death story, why does the website
wingfieldministries.org say that in Elkin, N.C. nearly two weeks ago you gave a SLIGHTLY MODIFIED
VERSION of your legendary testimony? And why did you skip out on your interviews with the
local newspapers and your debate with Sheriff Farley before the Bar Association? And how do
you expect to save the citizens of this county money as sheriff when, according to the citizens of
Dayton, you rarely work? Did you not just work only one day out of a recent fourteen this
month and hasn't this been a consistent pattern for some time? At least that is what I have
been told by those who keep documented records in their homes of your working hours. And, Mr.
Farris when you were discussing drinking and driving on the radio last Tuesday evening and you used
the words ___[omitted]? I pray it was coincidence.

In closing, thank you to the many people in this county who have
supported our endeavor with their prayers and words of kindness. A copy of this letter may be
obtained by calling ___-6050. Please, if you make copies [of this letter] and send them to
others, have the courage to either sign your name or put your return address on the envelope.
Letters that have previously been sent by me as well as copies of this letter will have my return
address. Again, thank you for listening to the truth.

#3 9 April 2004
e-mail:

"Dr
Shaw,

I pulled up the testimony of Buddy Farris the
other day and was sickened to read the vicious attack on Buddy. I was wondering if you
could help us out by removing it from your site. I know you are not responsible for the
cruel things that were said but it appears to be on your
site.

Buddy is the Chief of Police in Dayton, VA and a
personal friend of mine. I have worked in law enforcement all of my life and presently
work for Frederick County Sheriff's Department in Winchester, VA. Buddy's testimony has
made a tremendous impact on my
department.

Last year Buddy decided to run for Sheriff and
that's when he came under attack. The e-mails that someone attached to his testimony
are very vicious and very upsetting to Buddy, his wife Donna, and his four children.
Buddy is a wonderful person who loves the Lord with all of his heart. He too has worked
his whole life in law enforcement and is so undeserving of the lies that have been posted at
the end of his testimony. Can you please help us out and remove them from your web
site. If you would like to speak with me I can be reached at my home in the evenings
and on weekends ____. I appreciate your consideration in this matter and if it cost
anything to have this removed, I would be willing to foot the
bill.

Respectfully,"#4 A 13 April 2004 e-mail: "I believe Buddy's testimony and have
handed out over 2000 of his tapes. He has made such an impact on this department. Last year
he ran forSheriff and as you probably know people can be very vicious in
politics. Buddy was constantly called a liar, mainly by one woman who
says herdead daughter calls her on the phone. She is the one who wrote
thee-mails that are tacked onto his testimony on your website. She
alsodistributed flyers during the campaign with the same thing on
them. Helost the election and is currently Chief of Police in Dayton.
His wifeis a school teacher and he has 4 children. His son Nathan is
trainingat Quantico to be sent to Iraq. His youngest daughter is a
senior inHigh School. I personally don't think anyone deserves the hurt
thatthis family is going though on a daily basis. I was horrified
to seethese lies for all the world to see because I do know Buddy and
hisfamily and they are very good caring Christian people. Please
let meknow if you have any questions and I will be happy to try and answer
them.

Thank you for your
time."

[Note: Buddy Farris lost the election for chief in the fall of 2003. "Please feel
free to list my personal e-mail address on the web site for folks who want to order a Buddy
Farris tape. My personal address isepartlow@yahoo.com. We are not allowed to use it while at work and we're not allowed to use our
county address anymore for personal e-mails. Please ask them to put "Buddy Farris" in the
subject line as I get a lot of junk e-mails that I automatically delete. Thank you. Evelyn
Partlow, Frederick County, VA, (10 May 2004 e-mail to
me)]

You have just read a very brief example of the
powerful, supernatural transformation of a person's life which is possible through the
acceptance of Jesus as your savior. Are you tired of life as it now is for you? He will
accept you just as you are right this second! Consider accepting Jesus now
[check it
out]!